The design consists of seven inter-linked white rings on a blue background.

The linked rings would represent the interdependence of life on earth, while the blue would allude to the planet’s vast oceans.

The design was conceived by Oskar Pernefeldt, a Swedish design researcher.

“Centered in the flag, seven rings form a flower – a symbol of the life on Earth. The rings are linked to each other, which represents how everything on our planet, directly or indirectly, are linked,” Mr Pernefeldt wrote in his design proposal.

“The blue field represents water which is essential for life – also as the oceans cover most of our planet's surface. The flower's outer rings form a circle which could be seen as a symbol of Earth as a planet and the blue surface could represent the universe.”

The new symbol could prove useful in future as joint missions like the International Space Station become more commons.

The flag, formally known as the International Flag of Planet Earth, is among a number of proposals and existing flags to represent the planets – none of which have been officially adopted.